Dr. Kathleen Susan Peter, MD

I found Dr. Peters to be relaxed, informed, concerned and she asked very incisive competent questions. I felt that she joined me with my upcoming surgery, spending plenty of time addressing my issues.

I am not writing to complain about Dr. Peter's promptness or her staff. I am writing in response to her inaccuracy to diagnosing my hip pain. I had an appointment with Dr. Peter on July 29th, 2016 complaining of pain in my left hip. I have had this pain since April and it was continuing to worsen. I had had x-rays in March and an injection in my groin for pain. When I went to see Dr. Peter on 7/29 she was very abrupt with me, told me I had more arthritis in my back than my hips. She did however neglect to take new x-rays and gave me a diagnosis of bursitis. The injection worked for a couple of hours. The pain continued to worsen and I made an appointment with another doctor who took new x-rays and found that my hip was bone on bone. This was on September 26th, then I saw a surgeon on October 5th and have my hip replacement scheduled for November 18th. Needless to say I have been in extreme pain for several months, and feel that if Dr. Peter had taken new x-rays I would have… had my replacement a couple of months ago and would be on my way to recuperation. I have always had a high pain tolerance but this is extreme pain and of course I wake every morning having trouble even getting out of bed and am certainly most unhappy to say the least about how awful this usually beautiful season of the year has been for me!

I waited a few days after my first visit to TRIA with my mother to review this in order to be objective. We met with Dr. Kathleen Peter after researching on find the best orthopedic doctor to treat my other osteoarthritis knee and planning for knee replacement surgery. She waited a few weeks while in pain to see the doctor. We arrived well on time and was called into the exam room around appointment time. We spend about 10-15 mins talking to the nice assistant answering questions. The assistance told us the doctor is running late because she is very thorough in answering questions. We waited about 30-40 mins before the doctor arrived. When the doctor came in, she immediately asking examination questions and we answered them, however the continue firing questions without letting us having any follow up questions or remarks. My mother then indicated she also have pain in the ankle/foot. The doctor claimed that have nothing to do with arthritis and ignored any of my mom concerned about… it. I mentioned to her that my mom pain in ankle and hip get worst with her knee pain, she firmly believe that ankle pain doesn't have to do with the knee pain but when we told her that after my mother knee injection, the ankle pain got batter, then she said oh that is interesting or something like that. I wonder if she know what she is talking about. You should think a place with Orthopedic and a doctor in Orthopedic should have some suggestion or referral to a doctor that can treat that. However I wasn't letting concerned me or that is why I'm upset now. By the time she stop asking all the questions she finally let me ask my questions that I have so I can a better understanding my mother condition and all the questions I have for knee replacement based on Google on what to ask. Each time I asked a question, I'm got a very rushed answer and a feeling that I'm being looked own or that the doctor is irritated that I even ask, like the question, what type of material is the device made of? I wasn't even asking question and then she said actually she is already running late and if I wanted to ask anymore, I should schedule another question. That is the moment I'm truly unhappy about. First of all, it is not our fault that she is running late. It is the doctor own incompetence on time management. Second of all, if she is so thorough on answer questions for previous patient like her assistance said, then why she is not taking the time to answer my questions. Either her assistance is a liar or the doctor is a liar. Either way, that was completely unacceptable. Third, we already waited a few weeks just to see her, now she want us to schedule another appointment, wait a few more weeks just to ask. By the time she told us she was running behind, we only talked to her for about 20 minutes. Does winning best doctor award from Minnesota and Mpls get to her head? Does she think she is the only orthopedic doctor in the Twin Cities. What give her right to treat me and my mom like this? She then asked if my mom want injection for pain, well of course she does! Because she is already in pain waiting for the appointment. After the injection, my mother got home with worst pain then before and one area was swollen. My mom had knee injection before a Twin Cities Ortho and this didn't happened. All we wanted is a good doctor who actually take the time to find out what the patient concern is and carefully explain what is the next time. I think that is an oath a doctor supposed to take. I have no idea how she win best doctor award. I now question Minnesota and Mpls ability on ranking doctor. Bottom line is, Dr. Kathleen Peter bedside manner is a complete disappointment, a joke, and she is no way should win best doctor. One way I can think of how she win is probably most of her patients are White, as we are Asian, so then she is probably a racist. If you are looking for a caring orthopedic doctor and take time to understand your concern, do not go to Dr. Kathleen Peter! Better yet, just avoid TRIA.

I highly recommend Dr Peter to anyone who needs hip surgery. The whole experience went smoothly: surgery, post op hospital stay, recovery at home after that. Went back to work in about 5 weeks to full time. Now at almost 6 months it is doing very well though still observing the few limitations set by Dr Peter.She visited each of the three days I was in the hospital and was attentive to questions and needs. Her staff are also very professional and caring. We have already sent one friend to her and he is now doing well and very satisfied.